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Does leaving a capo on “hurt” the strings?@Brian: Oh, I see... but I merely posted up Griffith's. That wasn't really my opinion :) but just so my answer could have more weight. Anyway, I just don't leave the capo on unnecessarily too long, just as I don't keep my bass plugged in when I'm not playing! But really, if one leaves the capo on every night, if the strings have a phosphor coating, that will begin to crack right at that fret and strings may probably have to be changed faster. I never keep the capo on anyway, since I always clean my fretboard after each session...

Does leaving a capo on “hurt” the strings?@Brian Ortiz: Eh... I myself have left my capo on overnight on several occasions. But it's not about the tension to the strings but the extra stress on the neck due to the increased tension in the strings, which could be significant, depending on where the capo is placed. One certainly doesn't want to have the capo perpetually hugging the neck.

Amp picking up radio stationsWait, if this happens when the guitar is not plugged in, then it's the power cord picking up the signal! Is that what you call the input cable, because that's slightly confusing?

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Amp picking up radio stationsGuitar cord could be acting as an antenna and picking up signals at a frequency that resonates with the amp speaker...when you wrap the cable around the amp, the signal constructively interferes and you hear nothing. the UPS most likely gets rid of extraneous signals? not sure...was a physics major (shame)!

Do I need to have my guitar re-set up if I change the string gauge@Kevin and @Matthew: you guys are right. I'll go for answers, especially at this early stage. The thing is, I invest considerable time in posting answers. And I'm trying to work right now, so I cannot really focus on this at the same time :D But I will start posting answers seriously now, damning the consequences!

Do I need to have my guitar re-set up if I change the string gauge@Matthew Read: Well, just out of habit, like I do on other SE sites, I wouldn't really post an answer except I am absolutely sure it is correct or my comment has been affirmed by other users. That way, I don't mislead other users. As you can see, the other posters insist on getting a set-up regardless of what gauge you switch to. For me, this has not been an issue between medium and lights. Thus, my answer is based on personal experience and practice, and probably stuff I read way back, but I guess the asker has found a useful answer that professional luthiers would most likely subscribe to.

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How do you determine if you're ready to join a band?Methinks it's all about passion. One must one want to play, not just play in a band. If one doesn't love the bass, I wouldn't recommend picking it up simply for the sake of playing in a band. In music, passion is everything. You won't stake out much for something you don't love. Except, well, playing on a band is more important that what one plays...

How do you identify a good acoustic guitar?I would usually recommend beginners go for acoustics. Electrics are harder to maintain. That said, I've taught a complete beginner on electric (received as a gift). The best way to get a guitar is to go to a store and play as many as possible. Get some expert advice and buy whichever sounds and feels best. Used guitars are also not a bad idea. My first guitar horrible! Overly high action, hurt like crazy, but it was a good experience. Now I can play anything!

Jan14

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Do I need to have my guitar re-set up if I change the string gaugeNot quite... and it also depends on the type of guitar you have. If you're going to a lower gauge, I wouldn't worry too much about getting it set up again. I switch between mediums and lights on my guitar every now and then and I never have to get it set up or anything. The real danger only lies in switching to a gauge much higher than your guitar can handle. I wouldn't worry if I were going lighter.